. . .because Morris, Minnesota, is a pleasant, quiet, safe yet intellectually stimulating place on the west central Minnesota prairie, home of the U of M-Morris and a whole lot of interesting people. - morris mn

"You'll never get ahead if you don't take care of what you have." - Doris Waddell, RIP

A historic building on our U of M-Morris campus - morris mn

The multi-ethnic building was the original home of the music department at UMM. (B.W. photo)

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Let's give deference to Founding Fathers

Charles Beard was a dope. He got attention through sheer
outrageousness, much like the right wing talkers who get on media shows. Beard was a fellow who fed the left.
The political left hasn't done
well since the media began evolving rapidly due to the tsunami of tech
change. The right wing has seized the electronic media with absolute
glee. The left may be finding some inroads now. It has taken time.

Our U.S. Founding Fathers erected a system that seemed to ensure
the desirable balance. That balance is between individual freedoms and a
foundation for the common good. The Founders never could have
envisioned our current media landscape. But their simple genius has
enabled the U.S. system to adjust to all changes. Up until now, to be
sure. And hopefully into the future.

You would think our Founders would win universal acclamation. You
would think we could all pause and say they were on to something. But
universal truths were hard to sell in the 1970s.

The political left had a firm footing at that time, with people
like Rick Nolan easily riding the wave. The so-called "liberal
mainstream media" actually did exist. Our Minneapolis newspaper was a
prime example, even irritating me at times, and I've always been
receptive to left-of-center thinking. The tone of the Minneapolis paper
and others could be patronizing.

The political left felt its oats. It reigned nicely on most college campuses. If you're in your 50s you surely remember.

I was mixing with some people at the LaFave House 3-4 years ago
when I heard the name Charles Beard. Charles Beard! His opining was the
kind of stuff that might get thrust in front of you in the 1970s. In my
case it was with a professor last name of Carlson.

The deconstructionists were given lots of breathing room in the
disco '70s. Their ideas seemed to have as much merit as the music at
times.

I don't mind knowing who Charles Beard was. I just don't like a
professor with all his power dangling this stuff in front of me as if it
calls for real respect or deference. A professor queried about this
today would probably say it's just fodder for consideration. Yes, and I
suppose we can learn something about painting from Jackson Pollock. I'd
like to see an art teacher present nine examples of modern art along
with one of a kindergartner's finger painting, and have the student pick
out which is which.

Beard's thinking is more along the lines of kindergartners, and I
mean no disrespect to kindergartners. You might consider him the left
wing equivalent to Erick Erickson and others of his ilk who get on
cable TV so easily today.

My professor gave us Charles Beard along with a book written by
avowed socialist Michael Parenti, plus he threw in "The Autobiography of
Malcolm X" for good measure.

At the LaFave House, I heard reminiscences about a UMM professor
who was retiring. I'm sure he's highly intelligent. And I'm sure he was
thinking in terms of challenging students with unconventional ideas.
He's a Democrat like me, yes, a card-carrying one. And it's fine to
present students with a broad range of ideas.

The Internet gives us the opportunity today to fact-check and see
just how much credence some of these ideas have. Let's look at this Mr.
Beard. He gave us a radical re-evaluation of the Founding Fathers. He
asserted that the narrow economic interests of members of the
Constitutional Convention affected their votes.

We can discover through some quick online research that a defining book by this fellow was "respected until the 1950s."

We're all entitled to our opinions of course. And you can look at a Pollock painting and express awe.

Our retiring UMM professor was feted in the evening at Prairie Inn.
The afternoon reception should have been held there too, not at the
LaFave House.

The LaFave House is a curious little - and I emphasize little -
element of the UMM community. It's really off-campus. Legend has it,
it's where the idea of UMM was first broached. But how do we know it
wasn't in a barber shop?

The legend became the basis for proposing its renovation as a
hospitality facility. The cost seemed to grow awfully high. I have
attended several events there through the years. I find the atmosphere
there to be very cramped for these affairs.

You have to walk uphill to get to the front door. You feel as
though you're in someone's home. I suppose that's because it was once
someone's home. It was fine for that purpose. For the purpose of public
receptions, it seems way too cramped. I find myself politely spending
time there but then wanting to leave. Call it claustrophobia. People say
"excuse me" several times as they wind their way back to the hors
d'oeuvres table.

It seems to me that any event held there could be held at
alternative locations that afford more space, like maybe at Oyate Hall
right on campus.

I suppose the party line is that we need the LaFave House. Everyone
is entitled to their opinion. As with Charles Beard and his pathetic,
chronic cynicism. And artist Pollock.

Beard's ideas didn't just fade with the disco '70s, they apparently
faded during the rock 'n' roll '50s. It just took a while for the memo
to reach a certain element within academia.

I'm willing to question a great many things. But if the Founding
Fathers don't represent some sort of home base where we can all feel
comfortable, then maybe our colleges have no reason for being at all.

Summer scenes around Morris, 2012

Click on the image to view a Flickr album of photos taken around the Morris area in the warm weather months of 2012. This group includes photos taken at the 2012 UMM graduation. The image above taken near Perkins Lake was chosen for display in the "Minnesota Explorers" Flickr gallery which is linked to Rick Kupchella's "Bring Me the News" MN website. Also chosen was a field of sunflowers photo I took. I'm delighted to have such platforms available. - B.W.

Past MACA Tiger football photos:

City of Morris perspective:

Pin it on your chest!

Click on the above image to access our "City Data" page.

Morris Theater - morris mn

Click on this image to read thoughts/reflections on our Morris Theater, which is hanging on through changing times (as a co-op). There is a link at the bottom of this post to read part 2 as well. These posts were written in spring of 2010 so there are some dated references. Any Morris native can spin some fond recollections of enjoying cinema fare there with friends.

Enjoy some fall scenery around Morris:

Enjoy some winter scenes around Morris:

Sam Smith statue - morris mn

Click on the image to read about the Sam Smith "running rifleman" statue at Summit Cemetery. This post explores the life of Samuel Smith, early Morris resident. He fought for the Union cause in several major engagements in the Civil War. The statue is patterned after the statue for the First Minnesota Regiment at Gettysburg National Park. This post is the newest of three that I have written about Sam Smith. I consider it the most comprehensive about the man. The statue can be an overlooked landmark of Morris MN. Everyone here ought to be familiar with it. Smith raised a large family north of Morris.

The first building here

In 1871 the first building erected within the village of Morris was the headquarters of the chief engineer of the railroad, C.H.F. Morris. With the railroad came the people.

The WCROC overlook

A nice view to the west is afforded from the WCROC overlook. It's a relatively new feature of the WCROC grounds. Specifically it's part of the WCROC Horticulture Garden. Click on the image to reach the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) website. Les Lindor was instrumental in making the overlook a reality. He served the West Central Experiment Station (the entity predating the WCROC) as ag engineer.

Stay informed about Stevens County MN:

Morris' music mecca:

Words to live by

This original and popular sign can be seen from the highway between Morris and Cyrus. It's associated with the late Dan Helberg. There used to be a sculpture next to it but perhaps it was removed due to legal restrictions (i.e. as a distraction). The sign has the thumbs-up for which we are grateful. Let's always heed these words.

Some spring/summer photo scenes:

The bike trail system

Call it both a walking and bicycling trail. It snakes along both the east and west sides of our Pomme de Terre River. You can do a complete lap which reportedly measures 4 1/2 miles. It's a fitness challenge for those willing to push their bodies a little! This photo was taken on the east side of the river, heading toward Lake Crissey (a wide spot on the river). Spring is a great time to get out there.

Our area's history:

Remembering "ag school"

From the time it accepted its first class in 1910, until it graduated its final class of seniors in 1963, over 7,000 students attended the West Central School of Agriculture. The precursor of the U of M-Morris, it opened its doors to its first class of 103 students in October of 1910.

Wildflowers out by the river

Click on this image to reach the "Minnesota wildflowers" website. This photo was taken on the west side of our Pomme de Terre River.

Before the current library

In 1921 the Stevens County Memorial Armory was built on the 100 block of East 6th Street, the site which is now occupied by the Morris Public Library.1969 saw the opening of the new Morris Public Library on the site of the old armory, leaving vacant the Carnegie building. The Historical Society found a new home in the Carnegie building in 1970.

A suggested restaurant

About Me

Brian Williams is a former writer in the Morris "dead tree" media who plies his pastime in the wonderful, liberating new media today. He refuses to consider himself an alternative journalist because the web is now the mainstream. Newspapers are in rapid retreat and it won't be long before they will exist in vestigial form only. Print media will not die because as a media observer put it: "We will always have print media for as long as there's a 'print' button on your computer." A once weekly newspaper (like in Morris) won't cut it. It's not consistent with our instant gratification culture. But the media are blossoming more than ever thanks to all the new tools. It's an uplifting, "green" new universe. Key word suggestions: morris mn - hancock mn - donnelly mn - cyrus mn - chokio mn - alberta mn - 56267 - stevens county - morris theater mn - morris area tigers - hancock owls.

Buy a car:

Pomme de Terre or Perkins?

Most maps identify it as "Perkins Lake" but it's known as Pomme de Terre to many local residents. The sign at the entry to the lake access uses the Pomme de Terre term, so that seems legitimate. This lake is part of a chain that represent wide spots on the Pomme de Terre River. Pomme de Terre Lake is useful for recreation and fishing, plus there are many fine residences along the shoreline. The chain is located several miles north of Morris.

A Destiny Driver. . .

"I Love Morris" is consistent with one of the "destiny drivers" as articulated by Stevens Forward! (named for Stevens County): "By 2010 we will enhance our interconnectedness by better utilizing the technology infrastructure to create a virtual community." (2010 is already here but this is always a "work in progress!")

We're the "Storm" in hockey

Click on this image to reach the official website of the Morris Benson Area "Storm" hockey program. Of course it's "MBA" for short. In Morris these teams play at the Lee Community Center, next to the fairgrounds.

B.W.'s country music memories, 1996-97:

Your Congressman:

Maintain perspective:

Main street of Morris mn

Atlantic Avenue is the main street of Morris and it's typically abuzz. Click on the above image to reach the Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission website.

Gager's Station

The first stopping place in Stevens County was Gager's Station, considered by some historians to be one of the more important stopping plces on the Wadsworth Trail. The station was nestled among the trees near Wintermute Lake.

VIDEO CLIPS

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The Eagles huddle

Blue is the color of the Morris amateur baseball team which goes by the nickname "Eagles." They're pictured about to break a pre-game huddle at their home: Chizek Field, named for the late Don Chizek who coached the Morris High Tigers for many years. The Tigers now have their own veteran coach in Lyle Rambow. Lyle had a successful playing career with the Eagles.

RIP jazz band leaders:

Best dog you could own:

"Dog is my co-pilot":

Superb early-morning TV:

Wind turbines - morris mn

There are two grand wind turbines such as this one on the eastern edge of Morris. It appears glistening white in this photo but they often are dark, silhouetted against the bright sky. A photographer never tires of them. They have become sustainable symbols of the community.

A trail of long ago here

The Wadsworth Trail was established by the U.S. Government in 1864 to transport supplies from St. Cloud to Fort Wadsworth, west of present day Sisseton, South Dakota.

No longer just a comedian:

She's upstaging Jim Klobuchar now:

Visit our McDonald's

It's a hotspot for dependable fast food and, just as important, socializing: our McDonald's Restaurant on the north end of Atlantic Avenue.

Our park in west Morris

Wells Park, located near Pacific Avenue and West 11th Street, was established in 1916 on land donated to the city by Henry Wells (a successful businessman and land investor) and Margaret Hulburd. Additional land was donated in 1935 by the Wells Investment Company, and in 1980 by Grace Zamerow.